GN hires firm to provide security at Rankin Inlet airport
Security needed to handle incidents mostly caused by public intoxication, minister says
Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok responded to questions Friday from Rankin Inlet North—Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok about security at Rankin Inlet’s airport. (File photo)
A private company is being hired to provide security at Rankin Inlet’s airport in what is becoming a “sad” trend across the territory, says Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok.
He announced the move Friday during an exchange in the legislative assembly with Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok.
“Throughout our facilities in our territory it’s sad that we are requiring more and more security, for a number of reasons,” Akeeagok said.
The three-year deal worth close to $1.7 million takes effect June 1 this year, Weichien Chan, a spokesperson for the economic development and transportation department, said in an email.
Akeeagok wouldn’t identify the company because the contract hasn’t yet been signed.
He said most of the incidents at the Rankin Inlet airport that require security are related to public intoxication.
In the legislative assembly on March 1, Sammurtok asked Akeeagok about an “increased security presence” at Rankin Inlet’s airport.
Akeeagok confirmed to Sammurtok that his department had hired security there as a short-term solution, using the same company that provided security for Rankin Inlet’s health centre.
“We had to do it as soon as possible,” Akeeagok said at the time, adding his department was putting together a tender to secure a local company to take over.
The tender was issued in March, with a requirement that whoever wins the contract must hire local employees for the work.
Akeeagok told Nunatsiaq News it can be hard to find Inuit willing to work in jobs that require confrontations.
To counter that, the department is ensuring there is a training component for any Inuk hired to provide security. As a positive example, he noted there are Inuit working in security at the legislative assembly.
“I cannot express further that Inuit should try to pursue this career,” Akeeagok said.
In the legislature, Sammurtok asked Akeeagok what penalties would be imposed if the newly hired security company does not make local hires. Akeeagok said he didn’t have that information.
Public intoxication, the new normal in Rankin Inlet
New? Not new I’m afraid. It’s been like this for decades unfortunately. There a lot of good qualities to the smaller communities but there are also a lot of crappy things as well just like everywhere else in Canada. Nothing new
What’s rapidly spreading in Rankin Inlet are plywood replacement windows. But like the 3 monkeys, No hear, No see, No talk. Guess Rankin Inlet doesn’t see through the reason for plywood windows.
” GHETTO LOOK” , it s in fashion in my town too. would be nice , if people could a least paint , the plywood.
Big difference working at the legislature than dealing with drunks at the airport.
What is the GN doing to temper the chronic binge drinking and resulting mayhem and misery in Nunavut?
What should they do?
You hear about public intoxication in Rankin Inlet, but what about employees of the Government of Nunavut or the federal government coming to work smelling like alcohol? Nothing is being done about it. Managers aren’t addressing the issue because they themselves are also doing it!
Hiring a private security firm may not be the right solution in this case as private security guards authority is very limited and may not be the right tool for the job.
I hope the people they hire for the jobs have the proper training and education required to limit potential liability.
It’s not new. Some people call it drunken inlet. Drinking and driving.
I thought Rankin was well known for tunnganalaaq ? I don’t see that anymore at all.
It’s all the transient travellers causing mayhem, they shouldn’t be allowed to shop at b&w.
Imagine actually believing this 🤣🤣
seen a lot of changes since the B&W opened its doors, although people were able to order in there alcohol supply, now that its readily available its gotten a lot worse because of this just look at the Local Police monthly reports to the Hamlet of Rankin, and i’m sure other communities close by are being affected by it too, hear about families breaking up, Thefts and Break and enters, alcohol and drug abuse is a very real huge problem all over the north
Lots of local , walking around , with a packsack and a beer in one hand. EVERYWHERE !!!
There’s gonna be lots of messed up kids now and for years to come. Guaranteed as if on cue. One will see every few days of each week. A female hiding outside behind her house waiting for cops to arrive. Week after week in Rankin. Wearing no jacket, sometimes no shoes, shivering in fear and relief, she got out. With little kids by her side frozen in pain, if they didn’t get stuck inside. She’s waiting for the cops to take out in handcuffs the screaming, thrashing man or woman inside. Take a look in area 6, 5, old town. It’s like an old music album playing loud but skipping stuck du-du du-du. All know deep inside. If it was an old priest from a foreign land inside the house causing the pain. Inuit Orgs across northern and southern Canada will be scrambling over each other to get on TV, radio and newspaper news to fast talk for action. With flow of money for conferences and trips overseas. Du-da du-da du-da du-da the kids the kids the kids.